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MDLinx  Psychiatry 5 minutes to stay current Your Article Summary Group music therapy for severe mental illness: A randomized embedded-experimental mixed methods study Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 11/22/13 Grocke D, et al. – Music therapy is an innovative approach to support people with severe mental illness (SMI). The aim of the study was to determine whether group music therapy (GMT) positively impacted on quality of life (QoL), social enrichment, self–esteem, spirituality and psychiatric symptoms of participants with SMI and how they experienced the intervention. Group music therapy may enhance QoL and spirituality of persons with SMI. Methods The primary outcome was QoL; secondary measures assessed social enrichment, self–esteem, spirituality and psychiatric symptoms. The 13–week intervention comprised singing familiar songs and composing original songs recorded in a professional studio. Qualitative data were generated from focus group interviews and song lyric analysis. Results Ninety–nine adults (57 female) were recruited, with an initial cohort (n=75) randomized to either: weekly GMT followed by standard care (SC) or SC followed by GMT. Crossover occurred after 13weeks. Measures were conducted at baseline, 13, 26 and 39weeks. A second cohort (n=24) could not be randomized and were assigned to GMT followed by SC. Intention–to–treat analysis showed a significant difference between GMT and SC on QoL and spirituality. This was robust to different assumptions about missing data (listwise deletion, last observation carried forward or multiple imputation). Per–protocol analysis suggested greater benefit for those receiving more sessions. Focus group interview and song lyric analyses suggested that GMT was enjoyable; self–esteem was enhanced; participants appreciated therapists and peers; and although challenges were experienced, the programme was recommended to others. Receive more summaries like this by joining MDLinx. We provide free daily digests of top journal articles in your field. >> Click here to choose your specialties. Other articles in Psychiatry >> Click here to see the complete list Effects of basal insulin glargine and omega-3 fatty acid on cognitive decline and probable cognitive impairment in people with dysglycaemia: a substudy of the ORIGIN trial The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 07/18/14 Prevalence of chronic headache with and without medication overuse: associations with socioeconomic position, and physical and mental health status Pain, 07/16/14 Thoracic paravertebral block and its effects on chronic pain and health-related quality of life after modified radical mastectomy Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, 07/02/14